Sutiyoso defends water charge increase<\/p>\n
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Jakarta administration has played down criticism over the
\nrecent tap-water rate increase, arguing the decision was fair to
\nboth poor and wealthy customers.<\/p>\n
"You judge yourselves whether it is fair or not to allow
\nricher customers to bear the higher rate of up to Rp 12,000 per
\ncubic meter of tap water, compared to the meager rate of Rp 900
\nfor the poor, which is lower than similar rates applied in other
\ncities nationwide," Governor Sutiyoso said on Friday.<\/p>\n
The administration announced last week an increase in tap
\nwater tariffs, ranging from 5 percent to 63 percent, starting
\nJuly 1.<\/p>\n
The tap water fee for "modest" homes, as well as for social
\nand religious foundations, like orphanages, mosques and churches,
\nhas increased by 63 percent, from Rp 550 to Rp 900, while for
\nbigger houses, the fee has been raised by 8 percent to 11
\npercent, from Rp 5,100 and Rp 7,500 to Rp 5,700 and Rp 6,800 --
\ndepending on water consumption.<\/p>\n
A 6 percent increase, from Rp 9,750 to Ro 10,400 has been
\nimposed on industrial and commercial enterprises, like hotels and
\nrestaurants. Customers classified as "special zone", including
\nthe Tanjung Priok port, are facing a 5 percent increase, to Rp
\n12,150 from Rp 11,500.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso said the rate paid by high-end customers had been too
\nsteep, so a slight increase for them had been decided upon.<\/p>\n
"Since the tap water rates paid by the poor are cheaper than
\nthose paid by other poor residents in other cities across the
\ncountry, like Semarang and Banjarmasin, we decide on a higher
\nincrease. I am sure they (Jakartans in the low-income bracket)
\nwill be able to afford the increase," he said.<\/p>\n
The rate for low-income households and social and religious
\nfoundations in Semarang hovers at Rp 1,347, while in Banjarmasin
\nin East Kalimantan it stands at Rp 948.<\/p>\n
City Council speaker Ade Surapriatna said the council had
\nrejected the increase as it burdened people in the low-income
\nbracket.<\/p>\n
"We are also opposed to the increase as the administration did
\nnot consult the council over the plan," he said.<\/p>\n
He said the council had formed a team to study the tap water
\nbusiness in the city. The council is also seeking, through the
\nteam, to modify legislation issued by former speaker Agung Imam
\nSumanto -- whose term was from 1999 to 2004 -- that allows the
\nadministration to raise tap water rates every six months until
\n2007.<\/p>\n
The latest increase is the second in a series of 10 planned
\nraises, which were conceived as part of efforts to pay off city-
\nowned tap water operator PAM Jaya's debts.<\/p>\n
On Jan. 20, the administration covertly increased tap water
\nrates by between 4 and 16 percent.<\/p>\n
The company owes around Rp 600 billion to its two foreign
\npartners, British PT Thames PAM Jaya and French PT PAM Lyonaisse
\nJaya, and Rp 1.6 trillion to the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n
Palyja, a subsidiary of France's ONDEO (formerly Lyonaisse des
\nEaux) serves customers in the western part of Jakarta, while TPJ,
\na subsidiary of Britain's Thames Water International, supplies
\ntap water to customers in the eastern part of Jakarta.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sutiyoso-defends-water-charge-increase-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}